Monte Frank

For the third consecutive year, a group of 26 hearty cyclists will pedal their way from Edmond Town Hall to the US Capital in Washington, DC, to support a number of what the team describes as “common sense legislation to reduce the epidemic of gun violence that plagues our nation.”

I have my tail tucked between my legs, and that is not something a cat is apt to do. Last week’s column failed to mention a very important day celebrating some very important people: fathers. A humble and belated Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads who are, were, or will be!

May is National Bike Month, and for those with pedal power, Bike Walk Connecticut has proclaimed the week of May 12–16 as Bike To Work Week. The less ambitious might want to partake of Bike To Work Day, scheduled for Friday, May 16. Numerous towns around the state have organized celebrations of bicycling as a means of transportation, with specific dates and times found at www.bikewalkct.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Riding 400 miles from Newtown, 26 bicyclists hoping to change the nation’s gun laws faced some strong headwinds on their way to Washington, D.C. When they reached the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, they faced even more — of the political kind.

It’s been nearly a year since a bill that would increase FBI background checks on gun buyers failed to clear a 60-vote threshold in the Senate. The House has not taken up any gun control legislation and doesn’t seem inclined to do so.

Team 26 members and supporters gathered on the steps of Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, March 8, before embarking on a 400-mile journey— the 2nd Annual Sandy Hook Ride on Washington (SHROW)— to show how diverse communities across the nation have one common goal: make streets safer and put an end to the gun-violence epidemic.

Gun violence touches all ethnicities and socioeconomic group. The push for more sensible gun safety legislation has helped to unify communities that would appear to have little in common. On Saturday, March 8, at 8 am, a group of cyclists known as Team 26 will embark on a 400-mile journey — the 2nd Annual Sandy Hook Ride On Washington (SHROW) — departing from Edmond Town Hall to show how diverse communities across the nation have one common goal: make streets safer and put an end to the gun-violence epidemic.

Sandy Hook resident and world class cyclist Monte Frank will be coordinating a second ride from Sandy Hook to Washington featuring Team 26 — a group of similarly motivated riders looking to honor Newtown’s and all victims of gun violence, support stronger gun violence prevention laws and to spread a message of peace, hope and love.

According to Mr Frank, also a local attorney, the ride will depart Newtown on March 8. The public is invited to help send off the cyclists at an 8 am ceremony at Edmond Town Hall on Main Street.

RIDGEFIELD — Organizers of a documentary screening and panel discussion set for Monday, January 20, at 7:30 pm, at The Ridgefield Playhouse hope the event will inspire increased collaboration between urban communities that witness gun violence on almost an hourly basis, and communities like Newtown, whose experience with gun violence on December 14, 2012, continues to attract global attention.

Almost 200 cyclists gathered on Saturday, December 21, for Newtown Cyclocross at Fairfield Hills. The cyclists tested their athletic skills on a challenging hilly 1.75-mile cross-country course that included pavement, snow, mud, turf, and sets of barriers, requiring riders to occasionally run and carry their bikes across unridable terrain.

Monte Frank, far right, celebrates with Team USA during Jukly's World Maccabiah Games in Israel. Mr Frank, a Category 2 Masters Class cyclist, captured a bronze medal for his 25km time trial, an individual silver in his age class for the 80km road race, and helped propel his cycling team to a silver medal as well.